April 2026 Federal Deadline

Your community's digital presence
needs to be accessible to everyone.

Three overlapping laws — federal ADA Title II, Illinois IITAA 2.1, and the Illinois Human Rights Act — are converging on a single reality: every public facing website, mobile app, and digital document in Illinois must meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA. The first major deadline is April 2026. The penalties for inaction are steep and the enforcement landscape is accelerating.

Franc.li helps school districts, counties, non-profits, and public agencies get compliant — quickly, thoroughly, and with the documentation that protects you.

746%
Surge in Illinois ADA lawsuits (2025 YoY)
April 2026
Federal compliance deadline for entities 50K+
$75,000
Per-violation penalty under Illinois IHRA (3rd offense)
2 Years
Extended statute of limitations for discrimination claims

The landscape has shifted.

For years, digital accessibility was treated as a best practice. Something aspirational. A checklist item that could wait. That era is over. The DOJ finalized a rule in April 2024 that, for the first time, codifies a specific technical standard — WCAG 2.1 Level AA — for all state and local government web content and mobile apps. Every school district, library, transit authority, public hospital, and county website in Illinois falls under this mandate. So does every vendor and contractor providing digital services on their behalf.

Illinois has compounded the federal pressure with its own enforcement mechanisms. ADA website lawsuits in the state surged 746% year over year in the first half of 2025. The Illinois Human Rights Act now authorizes civil penalties of up to $75,000 per violation and extends the statute of limitations to two years. Organizations that serve the public through digital channels face real, escalating financial exposure — and documented good faith compliance is the clearest path to managing that risk.

What We Do

End to end accessibility services designed to move quickly without cutting corners. Every engagement is scoped to your specific deadline and digital footprint.

Full-Site WCAG 2.1 AA Audit

A thorough review of every page, form, and interactive element across your web properties. We identify gaps, document findings, and deliver a clear remediation roadmap — not a generic scan report.

Document Accessibility Remediation

PDFs, slide decks, reports, and public notices all fall under compliance requirements. We convert and restructure your existing documents to meet WCAG standards, including proper tagging, reading order, and alternative text.

Accessible Website Redesign & Development

For organizations whose web presence needs more than a patch. We build modern, WCAG 2.1 AA compliant sites from the ground up — fast loading, screen reader friendly, and designed for every user.

Mobile App Accessibility Testing

The federal rule covers mobile apps alongside websites. We test your iOS and Android apps against VoiceOver, TalkBack, and switch access — and provide a fix list prioritized by impact.

VPAT & Compliance Documentation

Government procurement increasingly requires a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template. We prepare your VPAT, publish your accessibility statement, and build the documentation trail that demonstrates good faith compliance.

Staff Training & Ongoing Support

Compliance is not a one time project. We train your content editors and web staff to maintain accessibility standards, and provide ongoing monitoring to keep you in conformance as your digital presence evolves.

Built for the Organizations That Serve Communities

We work with the entities that face the most direct compliance exposure — and that have the most to gain by getting this right. Accessible digital services are not just a legal requirement. They are a statement about who your community includes.

School Districts & ESCsCounty & Municipal GovernmentPublic Libraries & Transit AgenciesNon-Profit OrganizationsPublic Hospitals & Health DepartmentsSpecial District GovernmentsCommunity Mental Health CentersState-Contracted Service Providers

Key Dates You Need to Know

June 24, 2024

IITAA 2.1 Standards Take Effect

Illinois updated its state accessibility standards from WCAG 2.0 to WCAG 2.1 Level AA, covering all information and communication technology procured by state agencies.

January 1, 2025

IHRA Statute of Limitations Extended

Discrimination claims under the Illinois Human Rights Act now carry a 2 year statute of limitations, up from 300 days.

January 1, 2026

New IHRA Civil Penalties

Civil penalties of up to $16,000 per first offense, $42,500 for a second, and $75,000 for third or subsequent violations within seven years.

April 24, 2026

ADA Title II Deadline (50K+ Population)

All state and local government entities serving populations of 50,000 or more must achieve WCAG 2.1 AA compliance across all web content and mobile apps.

April 26, 2027

ADA Title II Deadline (Under 50K)

Entities under 50,000 population and all special district governments must comply.

Start Your Compliance Assessment

The deadlines are fixed, but getting ahead of them is a choice. Reach out to schedule a no-cost initial consultation and learn where your digital presence stands today.

Email Our Team:

accessibility@franc.li

Speak With a Specialist:

1-844-551-7243

What to Expect

  • Free initial accessibility assessment
  • Prioritized remediation roadmap
  • Clear project timeline tied to your deadline
  • Ongoing compliance monitoring options

About Us

Franc.li

A Division of Way Shape Form, Inc.

390 NE 191st St STE 8841
Miami, FL 33179

Request a Free Assessment

Tell us about your organization and digital presence. We'll respond within one business day with a preliminary assessment and recommended next steps.

Thank you for your message! We'll be in touch within 1 business day.
Something went wrong. Please try again or contact us directly.
Please enter your name
Please enter your title
Please enter your organization
Please enter a valid email address
Please select a population size

Compliance Isn't Optional. Getting Ahead of It Is.

Illinois organizations face triple enforcement exposure under federal ADA, IITAA 2.1, and IHRA. We help you meet every standard — on time, with documentation that protects you.

Schedule Your Free Assessment